Note: Loving this new job. I can get a lot of writing done at work so thus you have a happy on time weekly update! Not having to rush it also lets me flesh out the chapter better- I think. I'm excited about some of the developments and a few other surprises I get to throw in. Hope everyone caught the Empok Nor foreshadowing cause it's coming. Also, things are not always as they seem, so stay tuned for more intrigue and the like. Thanks to everyone who continues to read and support me, it really means a lot. As always, C&C is always welcome too!


Garak's initial thought it to point out every single thing that is wrong with that suggestion. Perhaps starting with the impracticality of "turning around" when they've already landed and then following up with the logistical nightmare that would be a world wide man hunt for a young man who still very well likely might be tardy for whatever myriad of reasons that youth have for such irresponsible actions. Julian's agitation, however, seems to him to go beyond the mere rational parental worry for the vague absence of offspring to something far more nefarious. And assuming his assumption is correct- which they normally are- it's beginning to paint a picture that makes a lot more sense in bringing together events that he was both present and not present to bear witness to. Starting with the matter of Keiko's little revelation in the shielding room that night they were under attack.

Julian has a prisoner number not with Starfleet, at least not in any designation that I'm familiar with. That's a Section 31, I'm sure of it. Likely special, but there's the matter of why. Ah, but knowing Federation laws concerning cloning, genetic engineering, all sorts of useful things they're missing out on, it would have to do with his status as an augment. But official record makes no mention of any arrest, merely a resignation. And Garak is highly familiar with just how unofficial, official resignations can be. But then you come back to the why of it, don't you? Imagine a certain doctor some twenty or so years ago disappearing seemingly from the entire universe right at the same time these two would have been born- no, the same time as the boy. And he and O'Brien's wife hardly seem to be tiptoeing around each other in the manner of two involved in a clandestine affair...

"Doctor Bashir, I'm sure he will turn up!" Nog's frantic jump up from the table indicates the Ferengi is still not an expert at dealing with such unexpected outbursts. Garak can hardly blame him though, one look at Julian's face would surely make a less seasoned operative seize with a chill, but it is in fact the intensity of that look which reveals the last of what he needs to know. They're augments, he realizes just as Julian looks about to lift Nog clear into the air for even suggesting any other course of action other than his proposed insanity. Of course that still leaves Garak with all the things he would like to know but he's been patient thus far, and as poor as Julian and his cohorts seem to be at hiding secrets he's sure it won't be long before he understands all of the "why's". Likely some genetic anomaly that could only be remedied via some in vitro alteration but that's a riddle for another day, Elim. What's important now is keeping on track and not losing sight of the-

"Julian!" The exclamation makes Garak turn from where it seemed Julian really was about to advance on Nog as he protested any irrational deviation from their plan. He sees Molly running through that same hall nearly crashing into the lot of them. There's a tear in the knee of her long pants, the other scuffed, a healthy layer of dirt covering the rest where he'd thought they were clean before. That doesn't make sense with the stairs still raised and the interior doors still locked except... There's no possible way unless... Unless she made use of that rope left and stored by Jadzia which would be a perfectly viable if slightly impractical feat even for a non augment. Or is it so impractical? In a rush one in good physical condition could descend and ascend from the rope faster than the mechanism that operates the stairs could possibly unfurl that monstrosity. Still, that seems irrelevant in the rush that follows as Molly, uncharacteristically rattled holds Julian's hands speaking with a quickness that would give even a Pygorian a headache.

Federation Standard tends to be spoken slowly. Garak has always rather appreciated that fact, though it occurs to him now as the chatter rapid fires past his ears that the laconic pace to which he has grown accustomed has left him somewhat unsuited to easily process the rush that Molly half shouts in Julian's face. He's just about to let her know, as he catches from one of every four words, that there is no more evidence of foul play other than the mere fact that her brother isn't here. He blinks a few times, trying to make sense of that jumble feeling something akin to relief when in comes the start of what should soon be a steady procession from the opposite hall, likely in response to the commotion. Garak stands, taking a last look at the makeshift Kotra board deciding that if somehow this doesn't end completely horribly he really must finish the game. He makes a mental inventory of their positions just in case Nog or anyone else decides that a few modifications might make the game more exciting.

"Julian? Molly?!" The exclamation comes first from Keiko, and he's thankful that he decided to move to the opposite side of the room lest he stand in the way of that collision. "What's going on?" Keiko, hair pulled back into a long braid swinging down her back stops at them both, confusion not quite yet blossoming to worry.

"Yoshi!" both Julian and molly exclaim at the same time, both stopping, Molly whirling to face Keiko almost frantic.

"Yoshi never showed at the point and he's usually not late so I just checked. You know I was gonna give him a piece of my mind give him what for right but I didn't see him. I check the rocks, like I looked quick as I could- not too quick I swear!- and I saw it! I saw the Piranha there! He was gone, mom! Gone! like that story Julian used to tell us about the men in the desert and that ghost but I saw his helmet and there was blood and there were pieces of his coat and-"

"We need to go now." Julian cuts in not looking much calmer as he puts a protective hand on Molly's shoulder. His expression is grim, but Garak can see from the tightness around his eyes that he's tense. His hand shakes with a faint tremor and he pulls it back, holding his wrist anxiously, looking to Garak for a brief second as if he already suspects that Garak knows something that he shouldn't. "And by 'we', I mean you and me, Garak." Garak instinctively bristles at that command as if Julian should order him about like one of Tain's hounds. He keeps that reaction carefully in check as he faces Julian back steadily, a smile pasted on his face. Certainly, I'd love nothing better than to traipse through an endless expanse of desert in search of your bastard son and a band of wily marauders whilst our mission and any chance of my going home is blown completely to pot. Now, why hadn't I thought of that? In that brief pause, however, Garak notices thatKeiko looks away for a moment just as Molly launches a furious protest. That makes him immediately suspicious.

"Julian..." Keiko's voice is subdued with that first interjection of his name. Molly is already checking two guns holstered at her sides, looking about to storm back the way she came and launch clear off the rail if she has to.

"Are you mad!? Do you really think I'm going to let you throw yourself right into the hands of the people who took your brother?"

"Not listening," she fires back sounding terribly young to Garak's ears just as Jadzia enters.

"What's going on?" she asks just as Molly turns to rush back out to the deck. Julian grabs Molly wrist with a rather parental sounding, "the bloody hell you are."

"You're just in time for the show," Garak informs her as he watches, waiting for some invariable sophomoric declaration that she doesn't need to listen. Much to his surprise, she stops, looking up at Julian, looking from his face back down to her wrist, as if realizing something, and he barely hears her whisper to him, "it's them, isn't it?"

"Well that was anticlimactic," Garak murmurs as Jadzia looks at both him and Nog.

"We might want to step out on this one," she says with unusual sharpness.

"And miss the excitement?" Garak exclaims, aghast. Really, She may not know that he knows, likely what's going on, but to deny him the opportunity to learn more. Such a cruel woman...

"Garak..." He moves past her, content to watch as Molly continues, Keiko, seeming to replay something back as she talks.

"I knew there was something screwy about those attacks. You don't go like that unless you got good cargo in your sights. And we dropped before we left, nothing doing, any raider worth his salt woulda known that. Yoshi was making a run to meet with some girl or some guy or some game but he got my message and none of them said anything about cargo just..."

"Just what?" Julian lets go of her and their faces are a mirror of the other even though her eyes are deep brown like Keiko's and not his hazel.

"Just that we were meeting you," she says face the embodiment of guilt, her eyes wide, a child who just realized that she'd forgot to poke holes in the little jar for the butterflies. "Julian I... I didn't..." Julian frowns at her as her hands come up over her mouth. "I... I didn't know I didn't think that they would..." Yes, it's all your fault, isn't it? That's what you're thinking, for surely if you'd exercised caution, if you hadn't been so careless, if you'd heeded what surely must have been a lifetime's worth of warning about those who would do you harm. Ah what a precious little fool. Now let us pause for some more sentimental nonsense, shall we? Garak watches as Julian halts that- as far as he's concerned perfectly deserved- bit of self recrimination, hugging her, some nonsense cooed against her hair as if she's not a grown woman. Yes, tell her it's not her fault. Tell her it's fine and everything is sunshine and rainbows with the world. Tell her the Prophets will forgive her and that they'll certainly punish the evil Cardassians for their wicked deeds.

Garak nearly starts when he realizes that he's bitten the inside of his cheek and in that moment his eyes avert, that lifelong training to observe, to watch, hatefully disrupted. He feel hot, angry, and he forces his fists the clench and unclench, forces himself to look out the window behind them both, to look at the expanse of dessert, the blue sky, anything else really. That might have been you once, Elim, that's what you're thinking, isn't it? Isn't that just exactly what you'd wanted? What you dreamed of? A child who'd seek you out for comfort. Who'd look to you to write all the wrongs of the world and even when finding you painfully mortal would somehow still believe you able to move mountains. Such a novel thing, that there might ever be someone who would look to you in pain, who would look to stop tears, to stop such emotional wounds. But you know that for what it really is don't you? Sentimental nonsense. A liability that will get you killed. You'd probably die for her too, wouldn't you Julian? You'd give your life, the life of a man who surely must have far more value to the universe as a doctor brilliant beyond measure than one alien child uselessly bound to one backwards planet.

"Molly," Keiko interrupts them and Garak had almost forgotten that she was even there. But regardless, he's thankful for the distraction, not particularly enjoying the turn of his thoughts. Molly looks at her and Garak's opinion goes up in his estimation when he sees only the barest hint of a tear in those eyes. He supposes she gets that from her mother. "What do you mean there was blood?" The question that follows is a surprising one coming from Keiko, spoken with an oddly equal amount of guilt lacing her tone. Garak thinks that it is a curious thing to ask. From a logical standpoint- though he concedes that he's had poor models for traditional parent/child relationships- he would imagine that her question would not be quite so pointed, that her focus on the that specific detail would not be so sharp. He has not had the privilege of her intimate acquaintance to say for certain but he has always been wise to trust his suspicions. Garak pays close attention to her, the thoughts that flash across her face as her eyes turn inward blare at him as if they were shouted through the entire room "there shouldn't have been blood..."

Garak sees Jadzia, out of the corner of his eye unsuccessful in removing the curious Nog from the entire affair. But it hardly seems worth it as the rest of the room quickly fills in. There are several thoughts that converge upon him at once, almost too quickly to process as Collins comes next into view followed by Watters and Farris. The latter two are slow, methodical, and he immediately suspects having heard that commotion that they know something. Another piece of the puzzle quickly falls into place in his mind's image. Their gait is far too slow and unhurried, Watters seeming not only calm, but almost... triumphant? Garak watches as Keiko immediately turns to face him. He watches as Julian follows that turn like a wolf tracking prey, and Garak's eyes go wide when he moves quickly- almost too quickly, just barely stopping himself- to confront Watters. Though they stand at the same height, Julian in that moment commands a rather impressive aura even with his slight frame.

"Where is my..." He doesn't so much trail off as he stops abruptly and Garak sees Molly right at his side, a hand on his arm, in warning. Yes, we wouldn't want Julian to make such a critical slip with the enemy now, would we? But something tells me that the cat is already out of the bag as you humans would say. Keiko had warned you, didn't she, Elim? Protect Julian, That's what she'd said. She said there were others with them. Perhaps Section 31 has been operating a much more effective campaign than I'd given them credit for. of course send the two least skilled in subterfuge where it makes sense, make use of the talents you have, any good agent would know that...

"Where is Yoshi?" Julian asks looking at him for just a split second as if he almost bore witness to something he should not be privy to. Oh my poor Julian, it's far too late for you to be concerning yourself with that now. Again, more curious, is not Watters' steady return gaze as he makes no denial, but Keiko's cautious hanging back.

"He's safe, Doctor Bashir, but don't you think your reaction is a bit much for the son of a former colleague?" Watters tone is goading and Garak almost wishes that he could shout right into Julian's fool head not to play into such an obvious bait.

"You know damn well that..." Julian takes a deep breath. "You know he's my godson. If you and Sloan and the others have the eyes he once claimed, then you don't need these games. I gave you my word that once this was over you'd have your damn Kironide and me as well." His voice is lower, again, Garak thinks that he is woefully underestimating Cardassian hearing. My, my, my, you were planing quite the little double cross, weren't you?

"Yes," Watters sneers back at him. "And we all know that Doctor Julian Bashir is a man of his word. We all know how highly you and your kind regard federation values." Watters is in his face, Julian is not backing down, and Garak is curious as to whether or not they'll come to blows.

"Tell me, doctor," Watters sneers in such a impassioned and angry manner it's no wonder they surreptitiously avoided them the entire trip. "Where was your vaunted nobility and sanctimony when you lied your way into Starfleet? Where was that morality, that integrity when you and former Chief Engineer Miles O'Brien caused that accident on Outpost 23 that almost took out half the Alpha quadrant? Or better yet, doctor Bashir, where was that human decency when you were altering the O'Brien's children with your own genetic material so that you could create another race of super soldiers?!"

"How dare you-"

"How dare he?!" Karrin Farris stands beside Watters looking ready to throw herself between the two of them, and it reminds Garak of some random tidbit of animal behavior Jadzia had once explained to him. "Watch yourself, Doctor Bashir, or have you forgotten that you're a nothing but a criminal here by the mercy of the Federation. You should be grateful for the fact that Captain Watters has even agreed to any of this."

Yes, the female wolf will come between her mate and an attack, cower as if afraid to protect his throat should the other attack. They certainly resembles a posturing pack of dogs. Garak suddenly wishes he had a spot of that lovely tea to sip as he watches Molly step up, hand hovering above the hilt of the pistol holstered on her left. Julian raises an arm in front of her so that she goes no further to crossing that line.

"Is this what Section 31 has lowered itself to then?" he snarls back. "Kidnapping? Extortion? You dare lecture me about Federation ideals? I know how Section 31 operates, I know how Sloan operates. And if you think you know everything... if you think that you know anything about my life or what I've done beyond those files let me set the record straight. Because you don't know a damn thing." Garak imagines that Watters would not be standing there so calmly clad Starfleet pretty boy in the face of that rather charming look were there not more to the situation.

"He's right of course." Keiko comes between the two at that exact moment, looking ahead at the floor. Given his suspicions, he's not entirely surprised by that. Nor is Jadzia or even Collins for that matter, though it would seem that Nog has not paid enough attention between piloting to be anything other than totally lost. Garak catches him half hissing some protest to Jadzia. I can only imagine the poor Ferengi about to see any chance of destroying the Kironide about to go up in a grand conflagration right here and now. Ah, but your worry only betrays your inexperience. The game had only started, and from here is where it becomes far more than the protection of assets, but the conquest of the opponent's Legate, the capture of the council members, the espionage and dare I hope for the torture. Garak catches himself in that odd idle daydream, if anything thankful for the distraction from his uncharacteristic parental ennui.

"You would do well to be still and to observe," Garak says low enough that he's sure only Nog and possibly Julian or Molly will hear if listening. "I believe I told you that at the start of our game, didn't I?"

"Stop. Julian. Molly." Keiko swallows, and he can see how much it pains her. Protect him. You have to protect Julian. That thought, that recollection makes such an unpleasant gnawing in the pit of his stomach it makes his breakfast roil uncomfortably as it tries to finish digesting. "Captain Watters is right." Her voice is soft but firm, steely resolve and he can only imagine what it must have cost her to make such a decision. And Starfleet makes it so easy, doesn't it? Just sell them your family, your life, your soul and you know they won't betray you. Yes, you can trust them, those sainted officers with their vaunted ideals and disgusting truths. They wield justice like a weapon, they do. And you believed it better to surrender your son than to let him fall to them by less willing means. Exactly as they wanted isn't it? To have Julian at their mercy- for surely the white whale is a much greater prize- they would promise anything, even the release of his two equally abominable progeny.

"Mom?" Molly looks at her first incredulously as Watters steps back, wise enough not to smirk, eyes carrying that expression even where the mouth does not. "Mom, where's Yoshi?"

"Keiko..." The weight of Julian's voice is such that its density could pull the very air from the room. "Keiko please tell me that-"

"He's fine," she insists again only a faint waver of her voice as she crosses back to join Watters. "I trust the Federation," she says to Watters far too calmly and Garak almost wants to laugh at how easily that fool laps it up.

"Mom, you didn't! Mom, you can't-"

"Molly..." Julian says, a look passing between him and Keiko as she steps behind Watters stiffly. "It's fine. You're insurance policy, right?" he practically spits at Watters. "To ensure my compliance? So help me if you even dare try to take him-"

"Julian!" Molly crosses in front of him with an angry shove back. "There's no way, no way you're going with them! They're not gonna let him go you said they'd never let us go you said-"

"I said to Miles that I'd protect you." Julian cuts in tone leaving no room for argument. "That's the most important thing that I said," he finishes with a softer tone. "Go on, Captain, you've ensured your damn compliance." His eyes dart to Garak and of course, it now falls to him to secure the lie. Now, what story have you fed these delightful officers to show them that you'll have my acquiescence? He almost visibly cringes at the notion that he's meant to be some middle aged mark, some lonely exile enamored with the Gul's damn handsome frontier doctor, but he supposes if that's the role he's meant to play while Julian schemes then so be it. It wouldn't be the worst indignity you've suffered thus far, now would it? Just don't forget, my dear, that at the end of the day, my mission remains unchanged, and you know that it isn't just Starfleet that awaits us but the order.

"But Julian..."

"Lower the gate, Molly," Julian says looking towards that hatch and then back to Garak. "We've got to get Captain Watters his Kironide."

Garak looks back at him with a completely adoring smile.

"Whatever you say, dear Julian." And as the humans say, may God have mercy on you when we arrive.